73% voters’ turnout was observed in Outer Manipur constituency. Here the voter’s count is 911,699 voters. Polling was peaceful in one of the two constituencies of the state. This constituency which is reserved for tribal candidates had voters in traditional costumes waiting in long queue to cast their votes. The polling started from 7am and continued till 4pm unlike other North Eastern states which had it till 5 pm. There were some reports though of altercations among the rival parties in Churachandpur and Ukhrul districts. Inner Manipur Constituency will go for polls on April 17. Manipur has been a Congress stronghold. In 2009 the voters turnout was 77.82%.

Reference: IANS﻿

09-Apr-2014Politics

82% voting reported in Nagaland

82% voting was reported in Nagaland for the lone Lok Sabha constituency. Out of the total number of 1182903 voters, 82% came to cast their ballot till 4pm. Here too like Manipur for security reasons polling was from 7am to 4pm. The voters’ turnout may be more as per the Election Commission official when reports from different parts of the state are compiled. In 2009, 90% voters had cast their ballot. Some technical glitches with the EVMs were reported which was sorted out immediately as per the EC officials. There was lot of excitement among the first time and women voters here. Weather also helped in polling being smooth as it had rained heavily yesterday but today it was fine. Here -led Here Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) is in power which is led by Naga People's Front (NPF). NPF is ally of BJP led NDA.

Reference: IANS﻿

09-Apr-2014Politics

Will avenge the insult through ballots not bullets: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal government may have relented to the orders of the Election Commission to transfer 8 of the officers but the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stated she will take revenge through people’s votes. She was addressing rallies in Burdwan districts Mangalkote and Memari areas. She charged the UPA government for the conspiracy against state government. She said the revenge will be via ballots and not through bullets. EC had asked the state government to comply with the orders by 10 am today. Banerjee had earlier dared the EC when orders for the transfer of the officials were meted out to her. She later on had to adhere to the orders as the EC put a question mark on holding of the polls in West Bengal if the orders were not executed. Banerjee has stated TMC will win 42 seats in Bengal and will have a prominent role for the government formation at the center.

Arunachal Pradesh had polling for the two Lok Sabha seats as well as the assembly election today and voters’ turnout was 45%. In four polling booths voting was suspended when poll material was put on fire by the miscreants in Kurung Kumey district’s Sarli polling station. Poll boycott was called by villagers as a mark of protest against bad roads and poor connectivity in Sisiang village’s two polling stations. This was in East Siang district. The voting percentage will be 60% or more as per EC officials after the reports from other places come in. In Arunachal West constituency, there are two polling booths Mago and Luguthang in Tawang district which are located at an altitude of 13000 ft and snow capped all through the year. These are the highest polling booths in the country. Total of 753170 voters will vote 11 candidates for the 2 Lok Sabha seats and 155 candidates for the state assembly.

Reference: IANS﻿

09-Apr-2014Business

Sensex closes at 383.75 points higher

Sensex ended at 383.75 points or 1.72% up though it has reached 22,740.04 points. BSE started soaring at 3pm and then touched a new high in the intra-day trading which is 22,740.04 points. This was much higher than 22,620 points touched on April 3. The Sensex started at 22,389.21 points ended at 22,727.20 points, with an increase of 383.75 points or 1.72% more than where it ended yesterday at 22,343.45 points. In the intraday trading high of 22,740.04 points and a low of 22,379.95 points was reached. Healthy buying was visible in capital goods, banks, metal, healthcare and automobile. NSE also went to a new record high of 6,807.45 points, and ended at 101.15 points or 1.15% up at 6,796.20 points.

Reference: IANS﻿

09-Apr-2014Science and Technology

Mars Orbiter reaches halfway in its journey to the Red Planet

The orbiter, India’s spacecraft to Mars has reached half of its journey to the red planet. This is after 4 months when it moved away from Earth on December 1. The spacecraft reached the halfway mark at 950 am today. Mars is located at a distance of 400 million km from Earth. The Orbiter which weighs 1337 kg is 39 million km from earth if calculation is done based on the radio distance. It is travelling at the speed of 1.55 km per second. The spacecraft was launched on November 5. Mars takes 24 hours 37 minutes to revolve round the sun while earth requires 365 ¼ days for this. The Orbiter when it enters the Mars orbit the scientific study will start with the help of five indigenous instruments.